Premier League Transfers Deadline Day
Robinho went to Manchester City, whilst Berbatov signed for United
Sep 1, 2008
After months of wrangling, one dramatic transfer came to a close, while another sent shockwaves around Europe as Manchester City beat Chelsea to the most expensive signing in British transfer history.
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham to Manchester United, £30m)
The talented Bulgarian striker has been the talk of the transfer market all summer long, with Tottenham stoically refusing to sell below his market worth. But that worth went sky-high today as Manchester City's takeover precipitated a British Transfer Record bid of over £30million, which was immediately accepted by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. Whilst Berbatov was in the air, flying from London to Manchester, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson allegedly met Berbatov at the airport and rode with him to Manchester United's training ground before a hastily arranged medical at the Carrington training ground. Late in the evening, the eponymous Bulgarian was seen shaking hands with both Alex Ferguson and chairman David Gill at Old Trafford as the ink dried on the longest-running transfer of the summer.
Robinho (Real Madrid to Manchester City, £32.5m)
Trumping even United's capture of Berbatov for sheer drama was Manchester City's audacious swoop for the gifted Brazilian, Robinho. Having been a transfer target for Chelsea all summer, and having issued his own personal news conference 48 hours previously (stating his desire to leave Real Madrid for Chelsea), the Real striker has had a late change of heart, and it seems anywhere but the Santiago Bernabeu is preferable to him. Having announced his own surprise and delight at Manchester City's takeover earlier in the day, City boss Mark Hughes will be delighted with a headline-grabbing signature such as this, and will see it as the first step in a series of expensive signings in the future for Manchester City Football
Roman Pavluchenko (Spartak Moscow to Tottenham, £14m)
Prior to Manchester United signing Berbatov, Tottenham Hotspur had already laid out a cool £14 million pounds on the Russian striker who set Euro 2008 alight with his pace and power in front of goal. Arriving from Spartak Moscow, the centre forward joins Darren Bent in the Spurs ranks and will look to repay some of that fee immediately at White Hart Lane and help supporters forget about Dimitar Berbatov as soon as possible.
Vedran Corluka (Manchester City to Tottenham, £8.5m)
Completing the transfer cycle was Croatian defender Corluka, who was finally allowed to join Tottenham Hotspur. The versatile right back was almost sold above City boss Mark Hughes' head a fortnight ago. However, with City now flushed with a new influx of money from the Abu Dhabi Group who have bought out Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Manchester United player agreed to sell Corluka to his North London rivals in the Premier League.
It has been a whirlwind day in the transfer market on an incredible final few hours, and with Robinho and Berbatov joining the Manchester rivals, there will be huge interest in how both players integrate into the two teams and their differing styles of play. How Chelsea and Tottenham fans feel about both acquisitions may well prove most interesting in the days that follow.
